Saturday’s SEC showdown in Austin carries more than just conference implications-it’s a reunion with tension baked in. Texas will host Ole Miss in what marks Chris Beard’s return to the Longhorns’ sideline, this time as the opposing coach. Beard, who was dismissed from Texas in January 2023, brings a Rebels team still searching for stability as they try to snap out of a midseason spiral.
Texas (14-9, 5-5 SEC) is trending in the opposite direction. Winners of two straight and three of their last four, the Longhorns are starting to find their rhythm at a critical point in the season. Their most recent outing, an 84-75 home win over South Carolina, showcased a team playing with energy and balance-especially on the boards, where they dominated with a 40-25 edge and 17 offensive rebounds.
Dailyn Swain was the engine in that win, leading the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds. His physicality and activity on both ends of the floor gave Texas a spark, but he wasn’t alone.
Tramon Mark chipped in 18 points, while Matas Vokietaitis and Camden Heide added 12 apiece. The Longhorns’ depth is beginning to show, and that's a promising sign as the SEC schedule tightens.
Head coach Sean Miller pointed to Mark’s resurgence as a key factor in the team’s recent success. “It was great to see him step up and find his rhythm-we’re much more difficult to defend when he’s scoring as well,” Miller said.
He also highlighted Heide’s impact, particularly his shooting against South Carolina’s zone defense. “His 3-point shots broke the game open,” Miller added, underscoring Heide’s growing role in the rotation.
As for Saturday, Miller knows the stakes go beyond just Beard’s return. “We expect to have a game against a really good team playing their best, prepared, and we have to be equally prepared and juiced up and ready to go,” he said. “We’ve got to take advantage of our home atmosphere.”
That atmosphere could play a big role, especially with Ole Miss (11-11, 3-6 SEC) coming in on a four-game losing streak. The Rebels were overwhelmed by Tennessee in their last outing, falling 84-66 in Knoxville. They kept it close early in the second half, trimming the deficit to six, but a run by the Vols midway through the half put the game out of reach.
Patton Pinkins and AJ Storr led Ole Miss with 15 points each in the loss, while Ilias Kamardine and Eduardo Klafke added 11 and 10 respectively. Still, the Rebels couldn’t find an answer defensively, and frustration boiled over late when Beard was ejected with just over six minutes left.
“All we ask for is a consistent whistle,” Beard said after the game. “The free-throw differential and the foul differential is just frustrating from a coaching standpoint and a playing standpoint. At some point as a coach, you have to fight for your players.”
That edge, that fire-whether it fuels Ole Miss or distracts them-will be something to watch in Austin. Beard’s return is bound to draw attention, but the bigger story is whether Texas can keep building momentum or if Ole Miss can finally stop the bleeding.
Either way, expect intensity. This one has layers.